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Class Talk Is Honest Talk

"Class" talk would be an improvement in the country's political life.
Right now, everybody talks as though we all agree on the end goals, when we don't, in fact. Everybody wants "to get the economy moving again." The phrase is meaningless. Actually, it has so many different meanings, it might as well be meaningless. Does it mean getting housing prices up? Does it mean reducing the government deficit? Does it mean lowering the unemployment rate? Does it mean increasing lending by banks? Or does it mean some impossible combination, like improving banks' balance sheets while lowering housing prices?

We live in a very unequal society: the inequalities of wealth and income are very real. The differences of power in the society are very real. The differences of role are very real. People who hire people have a different interest than people who are looking for work. The people who own a mortgage on an overvalued house have a very different interest than the person living in it.

Instead of hiding beyond vague generalizations, like "getting the economy moving again", let's have people actually say what they want. Wealthy people want to keep more of their money by paying less taxes. Middle class and poor people want the security of a pension and a health care when they are no longer working. Poor people want help buying food. Unemployed people want jobs. People in Louisiana and Texas often want the oil industry to be very successful. Some of these desires are in conflict and that is why we have a political process, legislatures and elections.

Let's have people advocate for the governmental policies that they think are good for them and good for others.

Class talk is honest talk and honest talk is good for the culture and country. A democratic society can handle it.

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